The Strategic Account Manager will be responsible for driving business growth and developing relationships with strategic customers across Southern Europe, covering Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal.
Approximately 80% of the role will focus on identifying and developing new target accounts from the ground up, while around 20% will involve managing and expanding existing strategic main target market will be Automotive Electronics, particularly Automotive Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs. The role may also cover strategic customers operating in the industrial, consumer electronics, and data center sectors. The focus will be on large corporate customers and direct strategic accounts rather than distribution channels.
The successful candidate will act as the key liaison between customers and the company‘s technical, product management, R&D, sales, and marketing ResponsibilitiesThe successful candidate will be responsible for:
- Identifying, approaching, and developing new strategic accounts across Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal;
- Developing new business opportunities with Automotive Tier 1 suppliers, OEMs, and selected customers in the industrial, consumer electronics, and data center sectors;
- Managing a portfolio composed primarily of new target accounts, while developing a selected number of existing strategic customers;
- Strengthening and expanding relationships with existing accounts, increasing commercial penetration and identifying new applications and projects;
- Defining and implementing strategic account plans aligned with the objectives of the business line;
- Building trusted relationships with stakeholders across different functions and organizational levels;
- Creating strong customer intimacy and positioning the company as a long-term strategic partner;
- Managing complex regional and international sales projects involving long decision-making and qualification cycles;
- Understanding customers‘ technical and application requirements and translating them into concrete business opportunities;
- Supporting the specification of materials and solutions within customers‘ projects;
- Coordinating internal technical expertise and ensuring effective collaboration between customers, product managers, technology managers, R&D, sales, and marketing teams;
- Contributing to the development of tailored solutions and value propositions aligned with customer and market requirements;
- Leading negotiations and driving opportunities through the entire sales cycle, from initial contact to project acquisition and deal closure;
- Gathering and sharing market intelligence on trends, competitors, applications, and industry developments;
- Participating in customer meetings, technical presentations, industry events, and other business development initiatives;
- Preparing sales forecasts, commercial reports, and strategic account updates;
- Ensuring that customer, project, and opportunity information is accurately and regularly updated in the CRM system;
- Collaborating effectively with international teams within a matrix organization.
The ideal candidate will have:
- At least 5 to 7 years of sales, business development, or strategic account management experience in the electronics market or in related electrical and electronic industries;
- A proven track record in new customer acquisition and business development within complex B2B environments;
- A strong hunter mentality and the ability to approach, engage, and develop large international accounts;
- Experience selling to Automotive Tier 1 suppliers, OEMs, or other major industrial organizations;
- Familiarity with project-based sales and long, complex sales cycles;
- Experience developing customer relationships from an early stage rather than exclusively managing established accounts;
- The ability to build relationships with technical, commercial, purchasing, engineering, and senior management stakeholders;
- Strong commercial awareness, negotiation capabilities, and deal-closing skills;
- A consultative and strategic sales approach combined with a clear focus on results;
- The ability to understand customer applications and coordinate effectively with internal technical specialists;
- An interest in technical products and applications, without necessarily being a highly specialized technical expert;
- Autonomy, resilience, initiative, and a proactive approach to business development;
- The ability to operate effectively within an international, geographically distributed, and matrix-based organization;
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and presentation skills;
- Fluency in English;
- Availability to travel frequently across Southern Europe, approximately 60% of the time;
- Proficiency in CRM systems, Microsoft Office, and sales reporting tools.
Knowledge of French and/or Spanish would be considered a strong advantage.
Our client is an international industrial company specializing in the development of advanced materials and technological solutions for the electrical and electronics markets.
- The opportunity to join an international industrial organization;
- A strategic and highly visible role in the commercial development of Southern European markets;
- A position with a strong focus on new business development and strategic customer acquisition;
- The opportunity to develop major international customers across Automotive Electronics and other high-growth markets;
- Collaboration with international technical, product management, R&D, sales, and marketing teams;
- A high degree of autonomy in managing the assigned territory, target accounts, and business development strategy;
- Comprehensive training on the company‘s technologies, solutions, and product portfolio;
- A remote-working arrangement for candidates based in Italy, France, or Spain, compatible with frequent customer visits and business travel;
- Gross annual salary: €75,000-€80,000, depending on experience and employment location;
- Performance-related bonus;
- Company car.
Unless you are applying for positions reserved for protected categories under Law 68/99 (in which case we only ask you to confirm that you belong to these categories, without any further information on your health or disability), your CV must not contain any information relating to your health status or to your belonging to a protected category, as this is not relevant to the assessment of your application.
